Dress-form.



No. 648,536. Patented May 1, I900. M. SHAIN.

DRESS FORM.

(Application me'd Aug. 22, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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MATTIE SHAIN, OF HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS.

DRESS-FORM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,536, dated May 1, 1900. 7

Application filed August 22, 1899. Serial No. 728,106. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTIE SHAIN, a citizen of the United'States, residing at Hot Springs, in the county of Garland and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dress-Forms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pneumatic dressforms of that class that are adapted to be used by dressmakers for fitting and forming dress-waists, basques, or similar garments; and its objects are, first, to provide a pneumatic dress-form that may be adjusted to various measurements, thereby enabling the dressmaker t0 fit garments without the necessity of the person for whom the garment is being made undergoing the tedious process of having the garment fitted upon the person; second, to provide a dress-form that will be extremely light; third, that may be deflated when not in use, thereby allowing it to be folded up in small compass for storage or transportation; fourth, that has a means for removably mounting it upon a pedestal; fifth, that permits of pinning the garment directly upon the form while it is being fitted; sixth, a means for decreasing or diminishing the bust-measurement independent of the waistmeasurements; seventh, a means for inflating the form.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the particular construction and combination of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved dress-form mounted upon a pedestal. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of same. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view taken on the line XX of Fig. 1. Fig. iis ahorizontal sectional view taken on the line Y Y of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the supportingbase. Fig. 6 is a View to show more clearly the eyelets 10, 20, and 25 and lacing-strings 11, 21, and 26.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the form, consisting of an outside covering 2, which is formed from felt or other material of the same class and is of sufficient thickness to be used to pin the dress-goods upon in draping without danger of piercing the inner lining 3.

The inner lining 3 extends across the base of the form and is fitted to the entire inner surface of the covering 2and is made of thin sheet rubber, air-proof, so that when inflated with air it expands and causes the covering 2 to assume its proper shape.

To prevent the rubber lining from becomin g twisted or otherwise hindered from assuming the shape of the covering 2, it is cemented thereto, except a strip 4, extending from the top to the bottom of the rear portion thereof, and two places 5 and 6 across the bust, and there may be also a fold at the hips. The rubber is full at these uncemented places to permit of as great expansion as the lacings allow. The covering 2 is severed longitudinally in the rear thereof, as shown at 7, for b the purpose of allowing the form to be enlarged or reduced in size, and is severed transversely across the bust, as shown at 8 and 9.

To draw the severed portions of the covering 2 together or to allow them to separate, I have provided eyelets 10 in the edges thereof, through which pass lacing strings 11. Fastened in a fold 12, around the lower edge of the covering 2, is a wire supporting-frame,

13, consisting of a wire band 14, so shaped as to conform to the bottom of the form 1, having brace-wires secured at equal distances apart on the inner periphery thereof, the inner ends being secured to a threaded socket 16, into which the threaded end of the pedestal 17 is screwed when it is desired to use the same.

To afford a convenient means of inflating the inner lining 3,1 have provided a small neck 18 at the top, in which is inserted a checkvalve 19, similar to those used on pneumatic tires.

To use the form 1 after the measurements of the form, and should it be necessary to enlarge the waist unloosen the lacing-string 11 at that particular point and pump air into the tube 3 until it causes the covering 2 to as sume the required measurement. Then by retying the strings 11 the form is ready for use.

Should it be necessary to make the waist smaller, draw the edges of the covering 2 together by means of the string 11, therebyrethe waist by its compression expands those parts. 7

If the person from whom the measurements are taken has a Very prominent or an extremely flat bust, it would be impossible to v expand or contract that portion of the form sufficiently by simply unlacing it or drawing it closer in the rear. Therefore the openings 8 and 9 are provided with eyelets 20 and lacing-strings 21, whereby the breasts may be madeprominent or fiat, according to the physical make-up of the person for whom the garment is to be fitted.

The inner lining 3v is made larger than the outside covering 2, and being uncemented at the points 4, 5, and 6 it laps over in folds when the edges of the covering 2 are drawn together, as shown at 22, 23, and 21.

It will be understood that the outside cov-- ering 2 is firstformed from the felt or analogous material in the shape shown in Fig. 1,

which is supposed to be a perfect form, and that the changes of size and shape necessary to fit the required measurements are made by enlarging or contracting from the normal or average which the form represents.

It will be seen from the above description that my improved pneumatic dress-form is readily adjustable to any ordinary measurements and that it will be possible by its use to 3 5 fit garments without the necessity of repeated trying on and numerous visits to the dress maker on the part of the person for whom the garment is being made. It will also be seen the back from top to bottom, provided with eyelets 10, in either edge of said opening to receive lacing-strings 11, and having transverse openings 8 and 9 across the bust, the edges of said openings provided with eyelets 20 to receive lacing-strings 21; the thin airproof rubber lining extending acrossthe base of the form, and cemented upon the inside of the covering 2, and having the uncemented folded portions 4:, 5, and 6, opposite the lon gitudinal opening in the back, and the transverse openings in the front of said outer covering, said inner lining provided with the check-valve, whereby it may be inflated; a wire band 14, secured within a fold 12, around the lower edge of the covering 2, said band having brace-wires 15, extending therefrom to the threaded socket 16, which is adapted to be screwed upon a like threaded pedestal 17, for the purpose of supporting the form, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, MATTIE SHAIN. Witnesses:

S. H. FATE,

HENRY LINDE. 

